Henry Joseph Melling: Drink-driving construction worker totalled Mercedes in crash

An earthmoving operator from Daisy Hill has been busted for drink-driving after crashing his Mercedes into a traffic light pole while the cops watched on.

An earthmoving operator from Daisy Hill has been busted for drink-driving after crashing his Mercedes into a traffic light pole while the cops watched on.

Henry Joseph Melling, 58, pleaded guilty in Beenleigh Magistrates Court on Friday to one count of driving a motor vehicle while over the middle alcohol limit but not over the high limit.

Daisy Hill man Henry Joseph Melling, 58, leaving Beenleigh courthouse.

Police prosecutor Tahlia Boettcher said police had been conducting patrols in Daisy Hill when they observed a blue Mercedes crash into a traffic light pole near Chatswood Rd about 12.30pm on February 6.

The court heard police spoke with Melling, who was driving the car, and he blew an 0.134 breath alcohol reading.

“He was questioned in relation to his consumption of alcohol and stated that he only had two beers that morning and thought he would have been right to drive,” Ms Boettcher said.

“Police noted seeing half-empty bottles of spirits at the crash site.”

Melling’s lawyer said her client’s car was written off after the crash, and he had since completed the Queensland Traffic Offenders Program.

Magistrate Mossop fined him $500 and was disqualified from driving for 10 months. He was granted a work licence for his job as an earthmover operator for that disqualification period.

Convictions were recorded.